Open Water Swimming

Open Water Swimming has seen a huge surge in popularity recently with the Glencoe area being no exception. August 2015 saw the first organised Open Water Swim, based at Glencoe Boat Club, sponsored by Clachaig Inn. The event itself was very successful with nearly 100 swimmers taking to Loch Leven and swimming distances of between 50m and 5km.

The legacy of the event is that there is now a regular group of swimmers braving the open water of Loch Leven on a regular basis, some of whom are to be seen entering the waters year round. Hopefully, the Glencoe Open Water Swim will become part of the annual calendar of events.

Outdoor Swimming is a risk sport and great care must be taken when considering a swim. The Outdoor Swimming Society is a very useful resource and also provides information concerning assessing the risks involved.

Loch Leven is a tidal sea loch with summer temperatures peaking at around 14 degrees and falling to less than 5 degrees in the late winter months. There are various favoured points of entry, with the bay in front of the Isles of Glencoe being a favourite for sheltered waters in most conditions. The west pier at Ballachulish and Lochside Cottages also provide good points for entry.